Magazine repeating-target trap.



Patented im. 2, i902.-

w. n. TBouTNE. MAGAZINE BEPEATING TARGET TRAP.

(Application led Nov. 29. 1897.)

4 sheets-sheet l.--

A(nh Medel.)

@vittima/.sa

No. 7|5,|79. Patented nec. 2'; mm2.

Y w. n. Tuuuen. MAGAZINE REPEATING TARGET TRAP'.

(Application Bled Nov. 29, 1897.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patentd Dec. 2, i902.

No. mima.l

w. n.-TnuTNEIL MAGAZINE REPEATING TARGET TRAP.

' (Application filed Nov. 29, 1897.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E @Le 46 fll ai I lli No. 7I5,l79. Ptented Dec. 2,1962.

w.; n. mournex. MAGAZINE REPETNG TARGET TRAP.

Applicationfiled' Nov. 29; 1897.)

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UNITED STATES ATENT einen.

IVILLIAM D. TROUTNER, OF PITTSFIELD, ILLINOIS, SSIGNOR TO THEOLEV'ELANDTARGE'I COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPO- RATION OF- OHIO.

M AGAZINE REPEATlNc-TARGET TRAP;

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 715,179, datedDecember 2, 1902'.

` Application niet November 29, 1897. serial No. 660,164 un man.;

To c/ZZ whom, t may concern/.-

Beit known that L'WILLIAM D. TROUTNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Pittsfield, in the county of Pike and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Magazine Repeating-Target Trap,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to traps for discharging or ejecting artificialbirds, disks, or other targets into the air to be shot at.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this class With amagazine for storing a number of such targets, preferably tar get-disks,whereby the trap after each discharge is automatically reloaded.

It is also my object to provide means Whereby the direction of flight ofthe targetmay be In order to enable others skilled in the to which myinvention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will newproceed to describe its construction and operation,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecilication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective vienT of a trap madein accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the sameWitlione of the forked legs'o'f the main frame broken away the better toshow the mechanism behind it. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view onthe broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking. upward. Fig. 4 is a transversesectionai View on the broken line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking downward. Fig. 5is a side elevation of theitrap complete looking at the opposite sidefrom Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig.5 looking toward the front of the trap. Fig. Z is a detail perspectiveview of the rocking cam. Fig. S is a detail sectional View through theojecting-arm on f Fig. 12. ejector and governor mechanism.

the line 8 8 of Fig. 15. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of thedetaining portion of the magazine feed mechanism. Fig. 10 is a verticalsectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view on a plane at a rightangle to that of Fig. 10 looking to the rear. Fig. 12 is a detail view,being a top i plan view of the magazine and its feed mechanism. Fig.V 13is va detail sectional view of the magazine and feed mechanism on theline 13.13 of Fig. 11 looking downward. Fig. let is a detail sectionalview on the line-14c 14E of Fig. 15 isa top plan view of the Fig. 16 isa transverse sectional view on the line 16 16 of Fig. 2, being also onthe line 16 16 of Fig.

- 1O,With the mechanism for operating the rocking cam added. Fig. 17 isa similar view on the lines 17 17 of Figs. 2 andlO. Fig. 18 is 'a detailperspective view of one of the supl the head of the bar for operatingthe supporting-blades of the magazine-feed mechanism.

Like numerals of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur inthe'various iigures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 21 is a table mounted upon legs22, 23, and 24, the table being substantially triangular in outline, thelegs 22and 23 supporting the front corners, and the leg 24 the rear end.

jThe legs are secured to the table by nuts 25 'or by any other suitablemeans and may be secured to a platform by screws or nails to be passedthrough openings in toes or feet at their lower ends.

Suitable bracing-rounds 26, 27, and 28 are provided, the round 26connecting'thefront 'legs together and the rounds 27 and 2S beingsecured at the front legs on the outerendsof ,round 26 by nuts 29 and toa bracket 30, se-

cured to or formed upon the rear leg.

A sleeve 3l is adjustably secured upon the rear leg 24U by a set-screw32 and carries in the rear of the leg a socket 33, in which a seat-post34 is mounted, the post being supported by means of a pin 35, passingthrough the post and resting on the top of the socket. A plurality ofholes may be provided in the post to vreceive the pin in order to adjustthe height of the saddle 36, adjustably mounted on the horizontal upperend of the post and secured by a set-screw 37.

On the front of the sleeve 3l is formed a crank hanger or bearing whichcarries a shaft 38, upon which is rigidly secured a sprocketwheel 39 andcrank or pedal arms 40 and 4l, carrying pedals 42 and 43. A drive-chain44 connects the sprocket wheel 39 with a sprocket-wheel 45, rigidlysecured on a shaft 46, journaled in bearings 47 upon the top of thetable 2l. By lneans of the mechanisms described, the various parts ofwhich may be of any well-known or approved construction, the saddle maybe vertically and horizontally adjusted, and a person seated thereonwith his feet upon the pedals may drive the shaft 46 at any desiredspeed, it being understood that the size of the sprocket-wheels, andconsequently the speed of the shaft, may be varied at the will of themanufacturer or operator.

The shaft 46, mounted in the bearings 47, as aforesaid, serves as thesupport for the bifurcated or forked legs 48 and 49 of the main frame,which carries all the operative parts of the trap, to be hereinafterdescribed, and, besides these legs, comprises au upright plate 50 andlower and upper arms 5l and 52.

At the junction of the arms 5l and, 52 a depending bar 53 is 'pivotallyattached by a pin 54 and leads downward into a slot 55 in the table 21,being adjustably secured by means of a screw 56, passing through thetable and into any one of a series of holes 57 in the bar, whereby theangle of the framework may be adjusted.

Upon the shaft 46 is loosely mounted a sleeve 58, secured againstlongitudinal movement on the shaft by a screw 59, passing into anannular groove inthe shaft. (Not shown.)

A socket 60, projecting from the sleeve 58, forms a stopbearing for thelower end of a shaft 6l, upon the upper end of which is secured theejector or discharger 62 by means of screws 63, passing through theannular fiange 64 of a sleeve 65, secured on the shaft by means of ascrew 66. (See Fig. l0.) The shaft 6l is provided with a bevel-pinion67, secured by a screw 68 and engaging with a bevel gear-Wheel 69 on theshaftv46, so that the rotation of the shaft is communicated to the shaft6l, which carries with it the ejector 62, whereby the ejector is rotatedat any desired speed.

On the outer end of the upper arm 52 of the main frame is rigidlysecured a tubular magazine 69, vertically slotted in its rear side at 7land having its front cut away for about one-third of its circumferenceand three-fourths of its height, as at 72. This magazine is open at topand bottom and isV Yadapted to hold a column of target-disks 73,

the column being supported by two blades 74 and 75, which normallyproject a short distance into the magazine through slots in its sides.These blades 74 and 75 are pivotally mounted on pins 76 and 77 andguided and steadied by ybolts or pins 78 and 79, which pass throughvslots 8O in the blades. The rear ends of the blades are provided withright-angular arms 8l and 82, which are bifurcated, as at 83, andembrace and are pivotally connected with a rod 84 by means of bolts 85and 86, passing through the forked endsand through slots 87 and 88 inthe head 89 of the rod 8 The rod 84 lies above and substantiallyparallel with the upper arm 52 of the main frame, is slidably mounted ina bearing-lug 90 on said arm, andhas its rear end pivotally attached toa lever 91, pivoted on the pin 54 at the junction of the arms 5l and 52and eX- tending downward through a slot 92 in the table 21, below whichit extends, and is provided with a rope or cord 93, extending to thegunners stand or score-board. A spring 94 normally presses the rod 84backward, and thus holds the blades 74 and 75 pressed into the magazinein position to support the column of target-disks.

When it is desired to drop the lower targetdisk upon the ejector 62, thegunner or scoremarker pulls the cord 93, which throws the rod 84 forwardand by means of its connections, as before described, causes the blades74 and 75 to spread apart and be withdrawn from the magazine 69 throughthe side slots. This action alone would permit the whole column to drop;but in order to prevent more than one dropping I have provided thefollowing mechanism: Upon the pin 79 is pivoted an arm 95, which at itsfront end is bifurcated, forming lingers 96 and 97, which are normallypressed through the open front 72 of the magazine into contact with thesecond and third target-disks from the bottom by means of a spring 98,coiled upon `a bolt 99, pivotally connected to the rear projecting endof the arm 95, which bolt passes through an opening in an upright Iiange100, erected upon the blade 75. When the blade 75 is in its innerposition, it bears upon `the outside of the rear projecting portion ofthe arm and presses the lingers 96 and97 outward and away from the edgeof the targetdisk; but when the blade 75 is moved outward by a thrustfrom the rod 84, as before described, the ange 100 will press outwardagainst the spring 98, which, having a bearf ing at its outer endagainst the nut lOl, will draw outward on the rear projection of the arm95 with a spring-pressure regulated by the adjustment of said nut 101,and consequently will cause the lingers 96 and 97 to bear with the samespring-pressure upon the edges of the second and third disks from thebottom of the column, as before stated. By this means the blades 74 and75 alternate in IOO IIO

action with the lingers 96 and 97, so that while the blades are inposition to support the whole column'of target-disks the fingers 96 and97 are out of engagement with the disks; but as soon as the support ofthe column begins to be withdrawn by the withdrawal of the blades 74 and75 the lingers 96 and 97 will press against the second and third disksand support all of the column of disks above them, while the withdrawalof the blades 74 and 75 will permit the lower disk of the column to dropdown upon the ejector.

inasmuch as the magazine is centered over the shaft 61, which supportsand carries the ejector around, if the target or disk were permitted todrop directly from the magazine to the bottom of the ejector the diskwould be centered over the shaft and simply rotate with it, thecentrifugall force generated by such rotation having no effect upon it.1t therefore becomes necessary to provide means which will cause thedisk to be deposited upon the ejector eccentric with its center ofmotion. For this purposel have provided inclined lugs 102, against whichthe disk strikes in falling and which causes the disk to slide slightlytoward the outer end of the ejector, so that the centrifugal force willbe exerted upon it to throw it from the ejector.

It not being desirable to permit the disk to fly off the ejector as soonas dropped thereon, a retaining-finger 103 is provided, against whichthe disk stops until permitted to be discharged by the removal of saidlinger from its path by the proper mechanism. The iinger 103 is pivotedat 104 on one side of the ejector and is provided with a rear projectingend or dog `10, which is held normally7 in a position to throw thelinger 103 into the path of the target-disk by a trigger 107, pivctedbelow the ejector and held in its normal position by means of a spring10S, whose outer end is attached to the bott-om of the ejector, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 15. In order to discharge the target-disk fromthe ejector, this trigger must be removed from contact with the dog 106of the linger 103, which is accomplished by means of a projection 109 Qnwhat l have termed the rocking cam 110. This cam is loosely mounted uponthe shaft 6l and provided with an annular groove 111,

into which projects a pin 112, extending laterall y from the forward endof the horizontal arm 113 of a bell-crank lever 114, pivot-ed on a screw115, which enters the upright plate 50 of the main frame. y

4An upright arm 116 of the bell-crank lever 114: is pivotally connectedby a rod 117 with the lever 91, before referred to, so that when the rod91 is pulled-backward by the gunner or score-marker, as beforedescribed, it will draw the upright arm 116 of theV bell-crank lever 114backward and cause its horizontal arm 113 to rise, which through themedium of the -pin 112 in the annular groove 111 raises the rocking camon the shaft 61, bringing the vtoe orprojection 109 into the path of thetrigger 107, which is being rotated with the ejector. This brings thetriggerk out of contact with the dog 106 of the linger 103, leaving thelinger 103 loose, so lthat the disk in the ejector, propelled by thecentrifugal force, will press the finger aside and pass out of theejector.

The particular time in the rotation of the ejector at which the trigger107 will be tripped may be predetermined or unknown, as desired by theoperator. To locate the position so that the disk will be dischargedstraight ahead or at an angle of fortytive degrees on either side1provide the head 118 of the arm 51 of the main frame, which forms theupper bearing of the shaft 61, with a vertical groove 119 in its frontface, a groove 120 in its lefthand side, and a similar groove 121 in itsright-hand side, the distance between these grooves being equal toforty-live degrees on a circle with the axis of the shaft as a center.There may, however, he as many of these grooves as can be convenientlymade in the head 118; but three will be sufficient to illustrate thepractical operation of the device.

A hub 122 projects laterally from about the center of the rocking cam110, which is hollowedout to permit a pin 123 to be inserted thereinwith a spring 124 coiled around it, having a tendency to hold the pinnormally in its inner position. When in such inner position, the innerend of the pin may be projected into either of the grooves beforementioned and will hold the rocking cam against any rocking movement orrigid to the head 11S.

Vhile in this position. and locked againstA rocking it may be movedupward by means of the bell-crank lever 114 into the pathvof the trigger107, and by reason of its immovable position with relation to therotation of the shaft the ltrigger will always be tripped at a pointcorresponding with the adjustment of the cam.

` To render uncertain or unknown the angle at which the disk will bedischarged from the ICO IIO

ejector, the pin 123 is thrown outward and locked by av pin 125 in-aposition far enough removed from the shaft 6l and the headA 118 toprevent the inner end of the pin 123 from entering any of the grooves inthe head, and thus being locked. The rocking cam will therefore be looseupon the shaft, and it will be impossible for the operator to know atwhat point in the rotation of the ejector the toe 109 will trip thetrigger 107. Y The rocking cam would belia-ble, however, to be movedaround with the ejector untilstopped by the frame of the machine, andafter that all the disks would be discharged at that particular angle.ln order to prevent this, l have provided the following mechanism: 126is a pinion rigidly secured ,to theshaft 6l, in this instance formed aspart of the bevelpinion 67. The teethof this pinion meshwith those ofthe gearwheel-l27,mounted on a sup.- plementary stub-shaf t 128,journaled in a horif zontal ilange 129 of theupright plate 50 in theIZO - tion of the ejector.

main frame alongside of and parallel with the shaft 61. A crank-pin 130on the gear-wheel 127 forms the point of connection for one end of apitman 131, which at its opposite end is pivotally connected at 132 to arocking lever 133. The outer end of the rocking lever 133 is bifurcated,the outer end of the pitman 131 being connected to one of its forks bythe pivot 132, while a connecting rod 134 hasdownwardly-bentends132,which aredropped into openings in' the other forkof the rocking lever 133 (see Fig. 1) and of the arm 135, projectingradially from the rocking cam, the connecting-rod being thereby renderedeasily removable. B v means of this mechanism the rotation of the shaft6l is communicated by the pinion 126 to the gear-wheel 127 and thenconverted into a reciprocatory oscillation of the rocking cam by meansof pitman 131, rocking lever 133, and connecting-rod 134, whereby duringthe continuation of the rotation of the shaft 61 the rocking cam will becontinually oscillated from one side to the other around said shaft, sothat the operator will be absolutely ignorant of the position of therocking cam and its toe 109 when he throws the toe into the path of thetrigger 107 to trip it and permit of the discharge of the targetdisk.

It may appear that in the vertical movement of the rocking cam 110 theconnecting-rod 134 could bind it against such movement; but thistendency is obviated by making the holes in the rocking lever 133 andthe arm 135 large enough to allow some play for the turned-down ends ofthe connecting-rod 134.

It will of course be understood that when the rocking cam is fixed tocause the discharge of the target at a predetermined angle by means ofthe pin 125, adjusted in one of the grooves 119, 120, or 121, theconnecting-rod 134 will be removed from the machine and the mechanismdescribed for continually cperating the rocking cam will be out ofaction.

It being desirable that the ejector shall discharge all the disks withsubstantially the same force,I have provided mechanism whereby thespeeding of the rotation of the shaft above a predetermined speed willbe prevented, which mechanism consists of a brake-shoe 136, which issecured upon the upper end of a lever 137, Which is pivoted in a slot138 in an arm 139 on a pin 140 and projecting below its pivot isprovided with a weight 141, the pivot of this arm being at right anglesto a radial line drawn from the center of rota- The arm 139 is formedsubstantially a portion of the ejector and carries a weight 142, whichmay be secured by means of a bolt 143 Vto counterbalance the ejector.The lever 137 below its pivot and above its weight 141 is recessed topermit of the passage of a pin 144, projecting forward from ascrew-threaded head 145, threaded through a lug 146, depending from theunder side of the arm 139. A spring 147, coiled around the pin 144, hasa bearing at one end against this head and at the other end against thelever 137, with a tendency to press the lever toward the shaft 61, whichtendency is regulated by adjusting the position of the head 145 byscrewing it inward or outward in the lug 146. When the shaft 61 and theejector are rotated, the centrifugal force will tend to throw the Weight141 outward, which as a consequence will throw the brake-shoe 136 inwardand against the surface of the magazine, which is always stationary,thus retarding the rotation of the ejector, such outward throw of theweight 141 being regulated by the spring and screw-head, so that whenthe screw-head is adjusted inward the spring will press with greaterforce against the lever 137 and will require a greater speed of rotationofthe ejector to generate sufficient centrifugal force to throw theWeight 141 out far enough to bring the brake-shoe 136 into contact withthe surface of the magazine. Thus after once setting the regulatingscrew-head 145 the speed above which the ejector cannot be rotated willbe accurately determined.

The ejector 62 is provided with overhanging side flanges 148 to preventthe target from rising while being discharged. Its bottom is cut away,as at 149, to lighten the structure and at the same time to lessen 4thefriction between it and the target as it passes out. A lip 150 isprovided above the retaining-finger 103, so that there will be no dangerof the target rising when pushing back the finger at the beginning ofits outward movement or when it is interrupted by some projection,roughness, or irregularity in the target itself. the bottom isdepressed, forming substantially a continuation of the cut-away portion149, but at the same time preserving the strength and rigidity of thearm itself.

If desired, electric means for pulling the arm 53 may be providedembodying an electromagnet and armature or a coil and core, with asuitable battery and connecting-wires and a push-button or other contactdevice at the shooters stand or score-board.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of myimproved target-trap it will be seen that I have provided a completemachine for carrying out the objects of my invention.

With my improved target-trap marksmen will be enabled to project aseries of targets without having to reload the trap at any angle toeither a horizontal or vertical line or at a predetermined angle fromthe horizon but unknown angle to the line of shooting. The discharge canbe made when desired by a simple pull on the rope or by means ofelectric devices, and the shooter may be assured of a regularity offlight of the target no matter at what angle, it being impossible tothrowitany fartherorswifterthan desired and as regulated by the governormechanism.

The driver or operator of the trap is entirely out of sight of theshooters, generally At the outer end of the ejector IIO behind a blindor guard, nor can he himself see who is about to shoot, so that in amatch there can be no collusion or favorltism.

With my improvements the only chance, however, for favoritism would befor the operaf-or to run the trap too slow'for some shooters in order toembarass them in their shooting while running at aproperspeed forothers.

In my target-trap all the contingencies liable to arise in trap-shootinghave been provided for, and while I have illustrated and described thebest means now known to me for carrying out my invention I do not Wishvto be understood as limiting myself to the eX- act construction andarrangement shown and described, but hold that such slight changes andvariations as might suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic wouldproperly fall within the limit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A target-trap provided with an openended, vertical magazine forholding a column of target-disks, and an ejector located below themagazine to receive the disks therefrom one by one, and means fordelivering the disks one by one to a position on the ejector eccentricwith its aXis of motion, substantially as described. 4

2. In a target-trap, the combination of a vertical shaft, a frameworkprovided with a head forming one bearing for said shaft, a plurality ofvertical grooves being formed in said head, a rocking cam, a spring-pinmounted in said cam for engaging in one of said grooves, and means forholding it out of engagement with the grooves when desired,substantially as described.

3. In a target-trap, a magazine adapted to guide targets in its interiorand having on its exterior a rubbing-surface, combined with acentrifugal ejector into which said magazine may discharge, and abrake-shoe carried by the ejector and adapted to engage therubbing-surface of the magazine being forced thereagainst by centrifugalforce as the arm rotates, substantially as described.

4. In a target-trap, the combination of a magazine which is completelycircular at its lower end, a centrifu gal ejector located below themagazine and adapted to receive a target dropped therefrom, a rearcounterbalance on said arm, a movable brake-'shoe carried by said arm,and a weight adapted when moved outward xby centrifugal force to movethe brakeshoe into engagement with the brakingsurface on the magazine,substantially as described.

5. In a target-trap, in combination, a centrifu gal ejector-arm, areceiver above the axis of rotation thereof, and a beveled lug carriedin the upper side of said ejector-arm wherevertical. shaft carrying acentrifugal ejector, of the rocking cam, loose on the shaft, means forraising the cam into operative tripping position, a pinion on the shaft,a stub-shaft parallel with the vertical shaft, a gear-wheel thereonengaging the pinion and carrying a crank-pin, a rocking lever, a pitrnanconnecting the lever with the crank-pin, and a rod connecting the leverwith the rocking cam, substantially as described.

'7. In a target-trap, in combination, a centrifugal ejector-arm, atarget-magazine carried thereabove, means for dropping single targetsupon said' ejector-arm, there being a beveled surface carried by saidejector-arm whereby a target dropped thereon is deflected from the axisof rotation of said ejector-arm, substantially as described.

8. In a target-trap, in combination, a centrifugal ejecting-arm, atubular magazine thereabove concentric with the axis of rotationthereof, means for dropping targets from `said magazine upon saidejector-arm, there being a beveled surface carried by said ejector-armadapted to deliect the targets as they fall thereon, and aspeed-governing brake carried by said ejector-arm, the shoe whereof isadapted to contact said tubular magazine, substantially as described.

9. In a targettrap, the combination of a tubular magazine adapted tocarrya column of target-disks, a vertical shaft in alinement with thelongitudinal center of the magazine, a centrifugal ejector mounted uponthe top of said shaft, below and concentric with the magazine, andinclined lugs on one side of the ejector, whereby disks dropped thereonfrom the magazine are thrown into the iield of the centrifugal force dueto the rotation of the ejector, substantially as described.

l0. In a feeding mechanism for magazine targettraps, supporting-bladesprojecting within the magazine-wall, combined with a push-rod and pinsconnecting each of said blades with said push-rod, substantially asdescribed.

I1. In a feeding mechanism for a magazine target-trap, the combinationof pivoted blades projecting within the magazine-wall to support thecolumns of targets, said blades having slots, pins taking therethrough,a longitudinally movable rod, a spring normally holding said rod in itsextreme position, a head secured to said rod, there being coperatin gpins and slots carried .by said blades and head, substantially asdescribed.

12. The combination of a magazine adapted to hold targets, an arm forvsupporting the same, a pair of blades lying on the under side of saidarm and adapted to extend beneath the targets in the magazine, saidblades having bell-crank extensions which lie above said arm, saidblades being pivoted to said arm, and an operating-rod carrying asuitable head, said head being connected with said bell-crank extensionsby pins and slots, substantially as described. y

IIO

13. In a feeding mechanism for a magazine target-trap, the combinationof pivoted blades for supporting a column of targets, a movable headhaving transverse slots, pins carried by said blades lyingin said slots,a push-rod rigidly connected to said head, a spring normally restrainingsaid push-rod, and means for limiting the movement of said push-rod,substantially as described.

14. In a target-trap, a feed mechanism consisting of a pair ofsupporting-blades, an operating-rod therefor, a spring normallyrestraining said rod, a pivoted arm one end of which may supportfrictionally the column of targets, a pin carried by the other end ofsaid arm, a nut on the outer end of said pin, a

scribed.

WILLIAM D. TROUTNER. Witnesses: JOHN R. PARKE, FRED TROUTNER.

